Tag: philanthropy

When Kenneth F. Weaver first started providing low-cost pensioner housing in Christchurch 45 years ago, he was amassing joy. Daughter Karen and son Craig talk of how thankful and contented their dad has made many older Cantabrians.

Kenneth F. Weaver

Prospective tenants of their one and two-bed units are eligible if they’re over 60, have less than $25,000 to call on and experience genuine housing need. Once there, they can relax, knowing their comfortable accommodation is secure for life. Often such peace would have been impossible to find. Generally tenants leave only if they require rest-home care.
Now numbering 29 units, and in locations including Abberley Crescent, Barbadoes Street, Hills Road and Trist Place, the Kenneth F. Weaver Trust Inc. homes all boast heat pumps, good insulation and tidy garden surrounds. There’s a tenant waiting list for when a unit becomes vacant. The accommodation is now managed and maintained by the next generation of the Weaver family.

It’s obvious that Kenneth F, now 83, had great foresight in establishing such housing, as the need for it has always remained steady. His charitable work was celebrated in 2005, when he received the Queen’s Service Medal for his outstanding contribution to the community.
Find out more by visiting www.kennethfweavertrust.co.nz.

Kicking up your heels takes on a very special meaning at the annual Harcourts Cancer Society Ball. One of the most exciting and prestigious events on the city’s social calendar, it has consecutively broken fundraising records for the past three years, with $208,000 raised last year to support the charity which supports Cantabrians living with cancer.

Photo credit Nayhauss

Horncastle Arena is the major host of this year’s event, which is being held on Saturday June 23. Although currently resting a broken ankle, one of New Zealand’s favourite broadcasters and television personalities, Hilary Barry, will be there to MC the event – cast or no cast!
For its 2018 incarnation, the Cancer Society Ball is turning up the noise on the dancefloor. Sweet Mix Kids – which has toured with Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, and even played at Coachella for the last few years – will be on hand, along with much loved locals The Eastern, and Simon Kong and Byllie-Jean.
But the piece de resistance of the eve will be the Harcourts Live Auction and this year a new selection of money-can’t-buy experiences will be on the table, including Singapore Airlines business class flights for two to anywhere in the world.
Meanwhile, Vbase chef Dan Shanks will be pulling out all the culinary stops with a brand new three course gourmet dining experience, alongside an elegant and sophisticated late-night Chivas Regal Whisky Lounge, Noble and Savage Tea Retreat and Coffee Supreme Station.
For more info and to purchase tickets visit www.cancersocietyball.co.nz.

We share our city with some incredible people who put heart, mind and soul into the support of philanthropic endeavours, so much so that we couldn’t possibly hope to list them all.

What we can do however, is list some of the upcoming events on the local social calendar which have been formed to support the vital charitable services that are at the heart of a strong community. We hope you enjoy.

Battle of the artists

Art Battle is live, competitive painting where 12 of Christchurch’s top artists have just 20 minutes to paint a canvas. The audience votes for the winner and all artworks are available by silent auction on the night.
But what is perhaps the most exciting aspect of this endeavour, is that it supports the charity ‘Just Peoples’ which was set up to connect Kiwis with the means and desire to join the fight against global poverty with small, locally led micro-projects across Asia and Africa.Sunday 6 May from 5:30-9:30pm
Sixty6 on the corner Peterborough and Durham Streets
For tickets visit www.eventbrite.co.nz

Philanthropic fare

It’s an iconic mystery dining experience and it’s all in support of Ronald McDonald House. Arrive with your guests at the pre-dinner function and enjoy a glass of champagne and canapes. This is where excitement builds with a live auction, before you find out where you will be dining for the night with a live mystery dining draw.
From exclusive local restaurants to private chefs at unique dining destinations, Supper Club Christchurch is sure to impress your dinner guests.Friday 15 June from 5:30pm until late
Pre-dinner location to be revealed soon, mystery dinner location announced on the night
For bookings contact Robyn Medlicott on 027 225 5221 or robyn@rmhsi.org.nz

A charitable cook

Life Education Trust Canterbury is very lucky to have the opportunity to host a fundraising event alongside Annabel Langbein.
Ticket proceeds will go directly to Life Education Trust Canterbury, enabling this talented team to continue delivering health educational lessons to 20,000 primary and intermediate school children in Canterbury each year.
During this exclusive event the second volume Essentials cookbook will be launched and Annabel will share stories from her free-range life as well as top tips and tricks to help you become a more confident and creative cook.Monday 7 May from 6:30-8:30pm
St Margaret’s College, Charles Luney Auditorium
Tickets are available on www.eventfinda.co.nz

Wham Bam Author Jam

We have a lot of talented authors in this beautiful country of ours, and Addington Raceway wanted to create a place for the public to meet them and perhaps find their next favourite!
The event will feature local authors and even some from further afield, with ticket and raffle proceeds supporting the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. So, grab the family, grab your friends and head to Wham Bam Author Jam!Saturday 24 November, 10am-4pm
Addington Raceway 75 Jack Hinton Drive, Addington
Tickets are available on www.eventfinda.co.nz

It’s been said that to achieve greatness, one must keep great company, which is the very premise behind one of the city’s most inspiring upcoming events.

Christine Korako and Marg Foster, Directors of Inspired Events NZ

On Wednesday 16 May from 12-3pm at the Addington Event Centre, the Women Inspiring Women luncheon brings together some of the country’s most inspiring women. From entrepreneurs and company directors to wellness warriors and television personalities, names from Toni Street and Angela Stone, to Lynette McFadden and Traci Houpapa will be on hand for inspiration.
Hosted by Inspired Events NZ and featuring MC Hilary Muir, the event supports some of the city’s most worthy causes.
Pay It Forward, with the charity Dress for Success, will have a clothing donation booth on site. Dress for Success invites attendees, and those unable to attend, to gift a ‘buddy ticket’, to enable a disadvantaged woman to attend, while In the Community Charitable Trust creates opportunities to do something special for mums with breast cancer.
Christine Korako and former Silver Ferns player and Motivationz Director Marg Foster are the names behind Inspired Events NZ. Established to inspire and motivate others, they believe investing in personal and professional development enhances individual and group motivation, leading to greater success and happiness.
“It’s all about connecting engaging and participating,” Christine says.
“We flourish when we have the right people around us who can advise us, support and strengthen our individual capability, grow our confidence and challenge us to reach our goals.
“People with a positive mindset are irresistible and that is why we came together to create Inspired Events. We unpack layers of motivation and inspiration through speakers and workshops to create a point of difference in people’s lives.”
For more information and tickets, email inspireatevents@gmail.com or follow @inspiredevents on Facebook.

A collaboration between two North Canterbury wineries, a grape harvesting company and several other generous donors is producing wine with a difference and the couple behind the project-turned-wine-label are still reeling from its early success.

Alanna and Pete Chapman

Alanna and Pete Chapman initially started 27Seconds as a one-off fundraiser for Hagar – an international NGO that helps survivors of modern-day slavery. “We wanted to help so we created delicious wine, where 100 percent of the profits go to survivors,” Alanna says.
“It was only meant to be a one-off fundraiser. But as we sort of delved deeper, it snowballed into a company.”
Terrace Edge, which is owned by Pete’s parents, provided the grapes for 27Seconds’ first run of wine and Omihi Creek Harvesting harvested them for free. Greystone Wines, just up the road from Terrace Edge, did the winemaking, with various others jumping on board to help.
Alanna was working in Hagar’s Christchurch office when she learned that every 27 seconds a person is trafficked into slavery and, while in India, walking through the alleyways of Sonagachi in Calcutta, the country’s largest red-light district, she and Pete witnessed it first-hand.
Alanna and Pete, a viticulturist who works on the family vineyard, realised wine was one way they could help. “We love the idea that something accessible, like wine, can be used for good. It empowers people to make a difference through just a single choice.”
Alanna says the combined generosity of the wine community meant 27Seconds was able to give away $10 from every $17-$23 bottle in the first run of wine. Greystone Wines provided heavily discounted winemaking, Kiwi bottle supplier O-I halved its prices, another company provided free caps and local designer Piet van Leeuwen of Port Edison did the labels pro bono.
“We love our labels. We’re super proud of them. Piet wanted to portray the name itself so that’s why there are 27 dots on the front and there are three dots that you can’t see as well. The idea behind that is once someone has been sold it is sort of like an ending,” Alanna says.
“It’s a really morbid topic but there is hope as well. There are things that can be put in place that reduce trafficking. We wanted it to be a hopeful brand as well so that’s why the colours are quite bright.”
27Seconds’ Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Rosé are available online and there are plans to start selling wholesale to local restaurants.
Three bottles of 27Seconds wine can provide a young survivor with a school uniform, shoes and stationery for a year, five can provide a bike to get to school and seven bottles every month can put a survivor through university.
Interview courtesy of Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism.

Just when it seems the world is suffering a surfeit of doom and gloom stories, along comes a story big-hearted enough to illuminate the entire universe. Along comes Project EBC and four fabulous people – Mike Lowden, Bette Chen, Tina Morrell and Fergus Flannery.

“IF ANYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND THE HARDSHIPS THIS FAMILY HAS ENDURED, IT’S CANTABRIANS.”

Project EBC (Everest Base Camp) was born from the coming together of like-minded individuals whose passion and vision for Everest initiated a two-fold mission: to trek to Everest Base Camp (at an elevation of 5,364 metres) and to help a family from Khumjung Village rebuild their earthquake-damaged home.
The home belongs to Tshering Thundu (Sandu), his wife, Tangii, and their four children. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake of April 25, 2015 wrought such havoc that Sandu – a porter and guide for more than 15 years who has summited Everest five times – and his family have had to camp under canvas ever since; not pleasant when winter temperatures can plummet to minus 15.
“If anybody can understand the hardships this family has endured, it’s Cantabrians,” Tina says.
The cost for the materials and freight for the repair of the family home exceed NZD $20,000. Funds raised in excess of building and repair costs will aid in the children’s schooling and any surplus to support the Project EBC team, which will be working on-site in Khumjung for two days alongside local Nepalese tradesmen.
This is ‘trekking with a mission’. With a goal of raising $25,000, Project EBC ran the 2017 Mount Cook Marathon as a team and raised $1,800+; they completed the 2017 CBD Stampede Obstacle Course, and on February 17 hosted a fundraiser gala dinner which raised more than $7,000.
“It may seem only one family’s benefitting,” says Fergus, “but the community will help build the home – the ripple effect from that can’t be measured.”
Tina nods, “A bit like conquering Everest – one step at a time.”
For more information, visitwww.projectebc.com.

For more than 10 years, Sue Bramwell has put her considerable entrepreneurial skills to work for Nurse Maude, partnering commercial enterprise with a charitable imperative. Metropol talks to the dedicated General Manager of Marketing about her love of philanthropy and her dedication to the vital service that has been caring for the community since 1896.

Nurse Maude’s General Manager of Marketing Sue Bramwell

You have enjoyed a decorated career in journalism, marketing, communications and writing books for children, what attracted you to Nurse Maude?

My family will tell you I was very badly designed to provide care (I’m the sort of person who would wander off and read a book in the middle of changing an Elastoplast) but very well suited to find the money for that care to be provided by others. I have always believed that your right to exercise choice and retain independence shouldn’t disappear with age or illness and so does Nurse Maude. Making that work visible to others is a diverse, complex and interesting business.

How challenging can the philanthropic environment be in terms of engaging support and how can people help more?

Working with sponsors, individuals and businesses that really get what we do makes it a whole lot easier. It is because of them we can provide end of life care and support free of charge to our patients and their families. Whether people are donating money, clothing for our hospice shops, furniture, and household goods to Maudes on Trade Me, or sponsoring one of our fleet of little white cars…there’s a whole lot of ways to be part of providing that care to those who need it most. We’ve been caring for the people of Canterbury for more than 120 years now, and we’re an integral part of the community. Thankfully, the community is also an integral part of Nurse Maude.

Nurse Maude

What are some of the greatest joys in your role?

As someone who is well known as being able to shop to Olympic standard, it has to be opening our seven hospice shops throughout Christchurch. Opening the first and the biggest in Merivale nearly 10 years ago was a heart-stopping moment in terms of calculated risk but it has been incredibly successful from the day it first opened its doors.
The skill, compassion, and sheer commitment the staff and volunteers of Nurse Maude put into their work is also a joy to behold. For many of those we care for we are often the only people they may talk to from week to week. We never forget that.

What would surprise people about Nurse Maude?

Nurse Maude effectively started district nursing in New Zealand. She devoted her life to the poor and sick on the streets of Christchurch and was the driving force behind the registration of nurses. Her legacy is a large and diverse organisation providing nursing in our hospital, hospice and the community, homecare, specialist services such as home dialysis, wound care, school-based nursing and paediatric services as well as founding the New Zealand Institute of Community Health Care for research and development. I live in hope that one day the woman who saved the lives of generations of Cantabrians will join the bronze busts of the Canterbury Heroes outside the Arts Centre.

What is the overarching philosophy of the organisation and how do the team live and breathe it?

Alleviating suffering in our community. It’s not just about providing nursing and homecare, it’s about recognising that with age can come social isolation and profound loneliness. There’s a real sense of loss that comes with increasing dependence on others and the belief of some that their life no longer holds purpose. Everyone needs to matter to someone and they matter to us.

What exciting plans and events are on the horizon for Nurse Maude?

The rebuilding of the Nurse Maude Hospital on McDougall Avenue, opening in September, would have to be one of the biggest in terms of size and financial commitment.
Canterbury has the largest population aged over 75. In less than eight years the number of people aged 85 or more will have doubled.
Many of the frail elderly cared for by Nurse Maude live in reduced circumstances with little or no family support and a bare minimum of income. The Nurse Maude Hospital is where they can live their final months in a safe and compassionate environment, where specialist palliative care is provided at no cost to them.
If there’s one thing Nurse Maude does exceptionally well, it’s providing care that is often considered too hard, too complex and too expensive by other aged care facilities without imposing private charges.